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The Meanest Of Times Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth album for the Celtic punk band finds them on a new label.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    These Boston Punk-folksters owe a large musical debt to Irish punk-folksters the pogues. But if that's not a problem for Pogues singer Spider Stacy, then it's fine by us, given the gloriously raucous, hook-heavy nature of '(F)lannigan's Ball.' [21 Sep 2007, p.81]
  2. The Meanest of Times is a lyrically dense album, but in spite of it all Dropkick Murphys know how to turn a wake in to a party.
  3. Meanest is everything you want in a Murphys record and a great inauguration for the band's newly minted indie label, Born & Bred Records.
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    The Dropkick Murphys don't fuck with a good thing on The Meanest Of Times. [Oct 2007, p.156]
  5. They're also songwriters--and good ones, too, preserving their party-boy reputation while turning out giant, soulful choruses on songs both manicured and memorable.
  6. Ultimately, The Meanest of Times stumbles when the folksy frayed stitching is torn away, exposing nothing but atrophied punk muscle.
  7. The band sounds re-energized here, and while the quality of the songs is very up and down, they at least all have their muscle back.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. RemyC.
    Mar 30, 2008
    10
    This is a very good CD and the Dropkick Murphys are a great band that give great cd's all the time
  2. MattD.
    Sep 27, 2007
    10
    A truly great album. It captures the hard working ethic and fun of Boston workers and Irish everywhere. The songs show their familiarity with A truly great album. It captures the hard working ethic and fun of Boston workers and Irish everywhere. The songs show their familiarity with the downsides of the average person. The song "Loyal to No One" reminds me of pain-in- the-ass neighborhood types you knew but didn't really like. Expand
  3. Remdawg
    Mar 16, 2008
    10
    This album is awesome (F)lannigans ball is awesome. I'd totally recommend it. another great DKM CD is "The Warriors Code"
  4. TimothyS.
    Sep 21, 2007
    9
    Brilliant. An improvement over their last two albums. God Willing and Flanagan's Ball are as good as any tracks they've done Brilliant. An improvement over their last two albums. God Willing and Flanagan's Ball are as good as any tracks they've done before. A must! Expand
  5. DaraghL.
    Nov 13, 2007
    9
    The Murphys are back, and as mean as ever!
  6. ZaneB.
    Oct 9, 2007
    9
    Great album
  7. JamesM.
    Nov 2, 2007
    3
    GOD! I hate idiot uses who abuse user vote and only vote either 10 or zero. I don't have a problem if people like this album. I GOD! I hate idiot uses who abuse user vote and only vote either 10 or zero. I don't have a problem if people like this album. I don't mind it, I find many of the songs exciting an innovative... but this album is not a 10. Illiniose, In rainbows, figure 8... these are 10's. Don't fool youselves by voting so highly on such a mediocore album. It's insulting to real music. Expand

See all 9 User Reviews